McNeal
by Ayad Akhtar

Broadway

Highlights

Female

Male

105 mins Present Day Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

Jacob McNeal just won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

The award is already improving his professional life, with high expectations for his newest novel for which his longtime agent has negotiated a large advance.

But McNeal’s career success comes at a time of great personal turmoil.

His alcoholism is spiraling out of control while his fascination with Artificial Intelligence threatens his relevance.

In this drama, McNeal must figure out how far he’s willing to go to tell a good story and if the value of the message outweighs its perceived truth.

Press Reviews

"Akhtar reanimates the discussion of artistic freedom in the fraught context of AI."
— Los Angeles Times

"Ayad Akhtar’s brilliant new play is transfixing."
— The Atlantic

"A startling and wickedly smart examination of the inescapable humanity – and increasing inhumanity – of the stories we tell."
— Lincoln Center Theater

"A cautionary tale of warped ambition."
— SF Chronicle

"A provocative, ripped-from-the-headlines production that confronts the messy ethics of creation."
— Bay City News

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Sahra Grewal McNeal’s physician, 40s	—	40s	McNeal’s physician, 40s
Stephie Banic McNeal’s agent, mid-50s	—	50s	McNeal’s agent, mid-50s
Harlan Mcneal McNeal’s son, late 30s	—	30s	McNeal’s son, late 30s
Natasha Brathwaite A New York Times reporter, very late 20s	—	20s	A New York Times reporter, very late 20s
Francine Blake A retired editor at the Times, early 50s	—	50s	A retired editor at the Times, early 50s
Dipti Banic’s assistant, 20s	—	20s	Banic’s assistant, 20s
Jacob Mcneal An author of renown, late 60s	—	60s	An author of renown, late 60s